Premiered Monday, September 22, 2025 at 9pm on MPT
Addiction is a complex and often misunderstood condition. This gripping special provides raw, unfiltered access and first-person stories of how drug addiction manifests differently for different people. Each tells a story of loss, struggle, and the fight to reclaim control. Journey deep into the heart of addiction, and how people found hope, healing, and recovery.
Desiree was 12 years old when she first saw her father snorting ground up pills. Soon she was a teenager using drugs to numb the pain of her experiences. Joe was diagnosed with mental illness as a child, and was incarcerated at 13. He says drugs helped him feel something he otherwise could not. LaTonya was abused as a child, and drank and smoked with her Mom before being introduced to crack cocaine. Wayne was never comfortable just trying to be himself, and felt that jailtime might be the best way to stay off heroin. In the grip of a continuing and progressive illness, each of their lives were controlled by addiction. Drugs became more important than their own wellbeing or welfare of their families.
But all of them have survived, and thrived. They built new identities for themselves, finding freedom in everyday living. And during their experiences, they learned recovery didn’t have a finish line they could cross, but would become a lifelong process that never stops.
Real Stories of Addiction and Hope explores individuals' lives through their most difficult moments. Find out how addiction changed and affected their lives and those around them, when they sought help, and how they’ve successfully remained in recovery.
A co-production of Obie Productions and Maryland Public Television.
Major underwriting support for this program was provided by Michael Silberman and Family, and was produced in cooperation with Behavioral Health System Baltimore.
Digital Extras
Steve lived on the streets of Baltimore, and once he began to deal drugs, he slowly became addicted to them. Now in recovery for nearly three decades, he shares his story and helps others.
A co-production of Obie Productions and Maryland Public Television.
Major underwriting support for this program was provided by Michael Silberman and Family, and was produced in cooperation with Behavioral Health System Baltimore.
